Larry1 0 #1 September 7, 2003 New to skydiving and just bought my first rig. A G3 with a 170 Sabre and a PD 176 reserve. Needless to say, I am a bit apprehensive as to my first few jumps with it, especially after reading a few horror stories in the forum about hard openings and such. Can someone with experience with the Sabre 1 give me some insight and maybe some pointers as to my rig? Thanks. I think what I am looking for is just a little reassurance. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dterrick 0 #2 September 7, 2003 QuoteCan someone with experience with the Sabre 1 give me some insight and maybe some pointers as to my rig? Thanks. I think what I am looking for is just a little reassurance. Hi Larry, Spend your case of BEER!! talking to other experienced jumpers on DZ about that packing technique. I've jumped several different Sabre 1's from a 210 down to a 170 and they all opened a bit differently. At 10 jumps you're likely not pro packing yet (maybe not packing at all?) but my very best advice would to get someone VERY experienced to pack it for you while you watch. then ,jump that pack job and report back. You'll fine tune it and after that you just repeat the process over and over. I jump a Raven II as a main (a reserve design, opens even harder) and I've found a few things that work for me. One thig is for sure - ANY canopy has the possibility to occasionally smack you even if you do everything right but Original Sabres have been tarnished with a more frequent occurance. Just pay attention and enjoy it. -Dave PS: a Sabre 170 is likely to be my next canopy unless I can get a smokin deal on a Sare 2 Life is very short and there's no time for fussing and fighting my friend (Lennon/McCartney) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Chrisky 0 #3 September 7, 2003 I've also jumped a number of Sabre 1s on my way to my current one (NOT a Sabre in any respect). Never had a problem with their opening, but you might wanna checkout this article from the manufacturer: http://www.performancedesigns.com/docs/hrdopn.pdf You should find the manual there, too, giving you the (theoretical) knowledge how to bag it. THIS DOES NOT REPLACE PROPER INSTRUCTION, THOUGH! So step up to an instructor at your home DZand learn how to pack it.The mind is like a parachute - it only works once it's open. From the edge you just see more. ... Not every Swooper hooks & not every Hooker swoops ... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skymick 0 #4 September 8, 2003 Apart from student canopies I've jumped only Sabres so far. I've found generally speaking openings are as hard or as soft as you want them to be. Get an expert to show you how to pack and find out various techniques to get it to slow up on opening such as puttin the slider over the nose of the canopy, using correct size bands/tubestows etc but dont end up just getting someone to pack for you all the time. Take the time to learn yourself and try out new techniques (get advice before you try though). I found doing it that way I was able to learn how to ge the Sabre to open any way I want (to a point). Ive found though if you get sloppy with pack jobs prepare to get slammed. Ive had one shocker so far that put me out for a week (tip: dont dump in a track! ) and one or 2 pretty bad ones due to sloppy packing. The rest were fine though Cheers Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
leggit 0 #5 September 8, 2003 Sabres are pretty good as far as I'm concerned. Yeah they open hard unexpectedly sometimes, but I tend to prefer a snappy opening. Like everyone else has said it is trial and error learning what packing method works best for you. I split the nose and roll the 4 outer cells on each side 5 times or so and keep it tight. This has tamed my openings a lot and they are generally on-heading. You will get belted every now and then even though you have done nothing different in the packing...adds to the excitement I guess. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
nathaniel 0 #6 September 8, 2003 unqualified opinion: I don't think there's any reason to believe that a sabre-1 is more likely to slam you than any other canopy--the design was and still is immensely popular. One reason you might not hear too much about wicked openings under a [canopy X] is probably that [canopy X] hasn't been on the market as long or isn't as popular as the Sabre was/is. It is true that any canopy can hurt you. Pack carefully, quarter your slider, dont dump in a track etc are your defenses. I jump a sabre-1 and it's given me bruises a couple times, but each time I can think of a reason why that doesn't include the canopy design.... I pack it with a textbook PRO pack... $0.02 nathanielMy advice is to do what your parents did; get a job, sir. The bums will always lose. Do you hear me, Lebowski? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JSE 1 #7 September 8, 2003 Dunno if you are packing yet but i just bought a sabre 150 and it was slamming me for a few jumps before i figured out how to pack it. I just roll the nose on each side and stuff it in the center cell, then just roll the @#$% out of the tail. Opens great after that. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Harksaw 0 #8 September 8, 2003 I have been packing sabres for almost 100 jumps and I have found from my personal experience that rolling the nose is counterproductive. I get the best openings by not rolling the nose, just pushing the unrolled nose pretty far into the canopy and pulling the slider toward you before pulling the topskin around. This has always given me a nice snivel and a decent opening. Whenever I have tried rolling the side 4 cells and stuffing them into the center I get spanked. Edit-- make sure not to push TOO far or you mess up all your nicely placed lines and you probably risk a malfunction. Just far enough, which I cant really explain how far that is over a forum.__________________________________________________ I started skydiving for the money and the chicks. Oh, wait. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
masher 1 #9 September 9, 2003 I don't push the nose in much at all. I don't roll it either. Neither do I quarter my slider, I pull it all the way out front and put it in front of the nose. Out of about 20ish jumps, I've had on brisk (but not hard) opening. This is the way my rigger showed me to pack it. I do roll the tail a bit though.-- Arching is overrated - Marlies Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Aviatrr 0 #10 September 9, 2003 I jumped a Sabre 150 many years ago...for a couple hundred jumps. I psycho-packed it exclusively - it really helped tame the openings on my specific Sabre. Standard pro packing - regardless of what I did with the nose - would yield severe slammer openings....and I have the x-rays to prove it from one jump! If you get a good one, and pack it right.....no problems, great canopy. If you get a finicky one, like I had, you'll wish you never had bought it. Mike Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
